The coolants can be mixed, but if you have more than 10% of the green coolant you have to use the coolant additive to maintian the system.

FarmerPhilCo, do you have a link that shows that the green coolant does have the additive already in it? The Motorcraft stuff I used in mine does not have the anticavitation additive. When I changed the fluid I had to add the coolant additive myself.

 

Care to do an experiment on your good deals? Add 2 quarts of green coolant to your 03 and treat the mixture as yellow coolant. Then tell me what if anything happens to your truck when the normal drain interval comes up. As they say, put your money where your mouth is. I for one won't do it, I don't have that kind of extra cash to toy with the expense of putting a new block in. More power to you if you do. By the way, how did you fit DT466 pistons in a T444 block?

 

to john: yes the green coolant has silica in it that acts acts as a barrier to air bubbles, but it wears out over time. All engines can suffer from cavitation, just diesels produce more torque which in turn produces more air bubbles.

to colt: you are asking me to do something that I have told you what happens. Yes when the time comes to add coolant I will gladly add green coolant for you. But, no, I will not act as if it the gold coolant. I told you what happens, the system will need to be maintained. So yes if I do what you want me to do, treat one thing like something it is not then yes possible cavitation can occur. Cavitation is not something that happens automatically, it take a good bit of time for it to completely ruin an engine. Oh, and I have a friend that owns a machine shop, he can punch your block out if you like.

 

Actually, torque has nothing to do with cavitation. It has to do with high compression which diesels have. And I'm not sure silicates protect from cavitation either, SCA's from what I have found are nitrites or phospates. As I understand it, silicates are there to protect aluminum from corrosion. And by the way, I never said that mixing the coolant will immedieately ruin an engine, nothing is immediate except the effect on your warrantee. But it is misleading to say they are compatible when they clearly are not, because even as you say, you won't mix the two and treat them as yellow coolant. What you now say is in effect, yellow coolant is not compatible with green until the service interval comes up for the yellow, then you can add green coolant and treat it as green coolant from then on out.

 

what I said is that there is no need to add any coolant to any of my vehicles at this time. When a system is low, that is when coolant is needed, not when the service interval is present. Secondly the word compatible does not mean exactly the same thing, it means the two or more things can work together without modification. You do not need to modify either of the coolants for them to work. If I add green coolant to the yellow the protection is still there, they are compatible. There is just a need to maintain the coolant. And yes it is the torque that causes the air bubbles, the twisting of the block causes airbubbles

 

...uhhhhh

 

Exactly what I'm thinking. FarmerPhilCo, everyone I have ever heard from has said that diesels have cavitation problems due to the high compression ratio, not the torque. Otherwise big block gassers would have the same problem.

 

FYI:

UNDERSTANDING CAVITATION
In elastic media such as air and in most solids, there is a continuous transition as a sound wave is transmitted. In non-elastic media such as water and in most liquids, there is continuous transition as long as the amplitude or "loudness" of the sound is relatively low. As amplitude is increased, however, the magnitude of the negative pressure in the areas of rarefaction (pockets of low pressure) eventually becomes sufficient to cause the liquid to fracture, causing a phenomenon known as cavitation.
Cavitation bubbles are created at sites of low pressure as the liquid fractures or tears because of the negative pressure of the sound waves in the liquid. As the wave fronts pass, the cavitation bubbles oscillate under the influence of positive pressure, eventually growing to an unstable size. Finally, the violent collapse of the cavitation bubbles results in implosions, which cause shock waves to be radiated from the sites of the collapse. The collapse and implosion of myriad cavitation bubbles throughout an ultrasonically activated liquid result in the effect commonly associated with ultrasonics. It has been calculated that temperatures in excess of 10,000̊F and pressures in excess of 10,000 psi are generated at the implosion sites of cavitation bubbles.

PREVENTING CAVITATION
Since cavitation cannot be prevented entirely, the use of supplemental coolant additives (SCAs) is necessary to provide a continuous protective coating on the metal surfaces in the cooling system. This coating will aid in controlling and limiting the damage done to the engine as a result of cavitation.
The single most important procedure in controlling damage caused by cavitation is keeping the cooling system clean with periodic flushing. The use of clean water combined with flushing agents will scrub the system of impurities, scale or other buildup allowing for a "fresh start" with the introduction of the new anti-freeze/water mixture.
When servicing the cooling system, always check for leaks or faulty pressure caps. These conditions can cause air leakage into the cooling system, reduce system operating pressure and allow the formation of bubbles.

 

Deja vu-

 

Guess i was wrong, I was always under the impression that it was the torque that cause the air bubbles to form.

 

Well, I certainly learned a lot. Really, I had absolutley no idea that coolant was that important. Thanks

 

Coolant is important depending on how you define "is".

 

not to dispute anyone, but if it is the compression that causes cavitation then how come it is not that big of a deal in oh say the M-B v12? it has higher compression

 

Prestone makes a heavy duty antifreeze precharged with SCA. It comes in a black jug. Hard to find. Had to convince local parts store to order me a case.

To quote from Prestone's web site: A blend of ethylene glycol and a specially formulated inhibitor package designed for heavy duty cooling system applications. The product is designed to eliminate the need for an initial charge of supplemental coolant additives on new vehicles and recharged systems. Can be used in all heavy duty vehicle applications.

 

I can't answer that but I wonder if it has wet cylinder liners? Is that a diesel engine? If I am correct my 97 has a compression ratio of about 17.5:1. Any idea what the MB is?